Turbulent air-intake device for carburetors



Jan. 13, 1959 R. J. STAUFFER 2,868,322

TURBULENT AIR-INTAKE DEVICE FOR CARBURETORS Filed Nov. 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheeti INVENTDR Ralph James Sfauffer ATTORNEY 1959 y R. J. STAUFFER 2,

TURBULENT AIR-INTAKE DEVICE FOR CARBURETORS Filed Nov. 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR Ra/ph James Sfauffer ATTORNEY TURBULENT AIR-INTAKE DEVICE FOR CARBURETORS Ralph J. Stautfer, Reading, Pa. I Application November 21, 1957, Serial No. 697,847 9 Claims. (Cl. 183-48) This application is a continuation of my co-pending application Serial No. 651,764, filed April 9, 1957.

This invention relates to an air-intake device for internal combustion engine carburetors, and it particularly relates to an air-intake device which is adapted to draw in the air in a state of turbulence.

This invention is based on the fact that efiicient carburetion depends to a large extent on pre-injection turbulence of the intake air. This turbulence breaks down the particles of gasoline or other fuel to form a substantial mist effect. This mist is easier to burn whereby there is more efficient combustion in the engine and better engine performance results. This not only causes an increase in the mileage per gallon of fuel but the decrease of engine labor effects quieter performance and quicker starting of the engine.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a highly effective carburetion for internal combustion engines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air-intake device for internal combustion engines which permits the creation of a turbulent atmosphere for the injection of the fuel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide turbulence in the air-intake of an internal combustion engine without the use of moving parts.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved air-intake device, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eflicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

' Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the upper or side intake-filter assemblies.

Fig. 4 is an interior view of the intake-filter assembly as, for example, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the device of Figs. 1 and 2 with the top cover plate removed.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown an air-intake housing, generally designated 16, which is generally cylindrical in shape and is provided with an open top. This open top is closed by a cover plate 12 having a peripheral flange 14 which frictionally engages the upper peripheral side wall of the housing 10. If desired, instead of a frictional engage ment between the housing and flange 14, coacting screw threads or other locking means may be provided.

The bottom of the housing 10 comprises a plate 16 having a central opening in which is positioned a carburetor seat 18 having a flaring upper baffie portion 20 within the housing 10 and defining an air outlet from the housing. At the top of the housing, the cover 12 is provided with a central opening in which is positioned.

the upper cylindrical portion 22 of a conical, air-intake member 24 having an open bottom 25.

The cylindrical portion 22 of member 24 is provided with a support frame 26 consisting of cross-struts extending across the inner diameter of the portion 22. At the intersection of the struts form frame 26 there is provided an opening 28 to receive a verticallyextending 0 rod 30, to be hereinafter more fully described. Between this support frame 26 and the upper closure wall 32 of the conical member 24 there is positioned a filter element 34 comprising a mass of brass or copper wool. Copper or brass is used because it does not tend to rust and deteriorate as would be the case with iron or steel. This is important since any rusted-away particles, finding their way into the carburetor, would tend to cause blockage of the carburetor and serious interference with the operation of the engine.

The upper wall 32 of the member 24 is provided with an annular series of holes 36 encircling the center point of the Wall 32. The cylindrical portion 22 is united to top wall 32 and the upper part of portion 22, above the plane of the cover 12, is externally screw-threaded, as at 38. These screw-threads, 38 are adapted to threadedly engage with internal screw-threads 40 on a peripheral flange-42 depending from a lid 44. The lid 44 overlies the top wall 32 of the conical member 24 and is provided with its own annular series of holes 46 surrounding its center point. By threadedly rotating the lid 44 relative to the top wall 32, the holes 46 can be brought into and out of alignment with holes 36 to vary the effective openings for air taken into the conical member 24.

Both the wall 32 and the lid 44 are provided with central openings which mate with each other to receive the rod 30. This rod 30 is threaded ,at its upper end to receive a wing-nut 48, while its lower end extends through the seat 18 and is threaded, as-at 50, to enable it to be threadedly engaged with a corresponding element on the carburetor (not shown). In this manner, the rod 30 acts to releasably clamp the entire intake assembly to the carburetor.

In addition to the upper air-intake through conical member 24, a plurality of side air-intake means are provided around the sides of housing 10. The side intakes are shown at 52 and each includes a cylindrical chamber 54 positioned in a corresponding opening in the side wall of the housing 10. Each chamber 54 is provided, at its interior end, within the housing lit, with a support frame 56 (as best shown in Fig. 4) similar to support frame 26 but without the central opening. Between this frame 56 and the outer end wall 58 of the chamber 54 is provided a filter element 60 comprising a mass of brass or copper wool similar to that illustrated at 34. The wall 58 of the chamber 54 is also provided with an annular series of holes 62, similar to holes 36, which are adapted to mate with holes 64, similar to holes 4-6, provided in a lid 66. The lid 66 has a peripheral flange 68 which is internally screw-threaded to engage with corresponding external threads on the recessed outer portion 743 of the chamber 54. A screw 72 extends through mating centrally-positioned, screw-threaded holes in wall 58 and lid 66 to maintain the lid 66 on the wall 58 in selected adjusted position. The relative rotation of lid 66 on wall 58 moves the holes 64 into and out of mating relationship to vary the effective air entrance in the same manner as is effected by the rotation of lid 44.

Extending downwardly from the inner wall 56 of each chamber 54 is an elongated, substantially conical duct 74 having an open lower discharge end. These ducts 74 have their open lower ends arranged substantially tangentially with respect to the lower opening of housing 10 as defined by baffle member 20 (as best shown in Figs. 2

and 5). In this manner, air coming through each duct 74 will enter the housing at a tangential angle so that the total air taken in through these ducts 74 will effect a. whirling action. This whirling action of the entering airprovides a turbulence without the actuation of any m0ving parts, thereby efiecting the desired turbulence without causing rapid wear of the means for causing the. tuburlence.

Although a central air intake through conical member 24 and six annularly-spaced side intake ducts 74 havebeen illustrated, the central air-intake means may be eliminated if desired; or the number of ducts 74 may be varied; or the side chambers 54 may be eliminated and all the tangential ducts 74 made to depend from the top cover 12. The particular arrangement of the parts will, of course, depend on the circumstances and the particular requirements of the engine. Each of the above described air intake means comprises a cylindrical portion such as 22 or 54 which provides an air inlet means and a substantially conical portion such as 24 or 74 which conducts air to the air outlet means.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. An air-intake device for carburetors comprising a housing having top, bottom and side walls, a plurality of air inlet means in one wall of said housing, an air outlet means in another wall of said housing, a substantially conical duct connected to and extending from each of said air inlet means to said air outlet means, each of said ducts being open at each end thereof, and the discharge ends of said ducts being arranged tangentially relative to said air outlet means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the air inlet means are provided with openings which are adjustable in size.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein a filter element comprising a fibrous mass of brass and copper materials is positioned in each air inlet means.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein one air inlet means is positioned in the top of a housing and the duct extending therefrom extends vertically down, and wherein the other air inlet means are positioned in the side wall of the housing and are arranged tangentially relative to said air outlet means.

5. An air-intake device comprising a generally cylindrical housing, a top wall and a bottom wall on said housing, an air inlet means on said top wall, an air outlet means on said bottom wall, air inlet means on the side wall area of said housing, and open-ended ducts depending from said air inlet means on the side wall area and extending to said air outlet means, said open-ended ducts having their lower ends arranged substantially tangentially relative to said air outlet means.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein each air inlet means is provided with a first cover plate having openings therein, and a second cover plate rotatably positioned on said first cover plate, said second cover plate having openings movable into and out of register with said first cover plate upon relative rotation of said cover plates.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein a rod, threaded at each end, passes through the air inlet means on said top wall and extends through the housing and through the air outlet means into a position to be connected to a carburetor, and a clamping nut on said rod above said air inlet means on said top wall.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein said top wall is a a removable cover plate.

9. The device of claim 5 wherein a filter means is positioned inwardly of and adjacent to each air inlet meaiis, said filter means comprising copper and brass woo s.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 537,451 Hawley Apr. 16, 1895 1,286,250 Donaldson Dec. 3, 1918 1,523,916 Tompkins Jan. 20, 1925 1,539,797 Chandler May 26, 1925 1,808,170 Kamrath June 2, 1931 1,890,708 White Dec. 13, 1932 1,912,657 Quam June 6, 1933 2,111,725 Petersen Mar. 22, 1938 

